Republic of Panama MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC …

1 PanCanal Building Panama MARITIME AUTHORITY Albrook, Panama City Republic of Panama MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-345 Tel: (507) 501-5355. To: Ship-owners/operators, Legal Representatives of Panamanian Flagged Vessels, Panamanian MERCHANT MARINE Consulates and Recognized Organizations (ROs). Subject: Ballast Water Management Convention 2004, Panama Policy. Reference: a) Law of 12 September 2016 adopting International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004;. b) - Application of the BWM Convention to Mobile Offshore Units;. c) - Guidance on entry or re-entry of ships into exclusive operation within waters under the jurisdiction of a single Party.

2 D) - Issuance of Ballast Water Management Certificates prior to entry into force of the BWM Convention and Ballast Water Management Plans approved according to resolution (20). e) Resolution JD of January 26, 2017. 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR is to inform that the Republic of Panama submitted to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, the accession of the Ballast Water Management Convention 2004, on 19 October 2016; and that the Convention will enter into force on 8 September 2017. Furthermore, it provides guidance and instructions to ensure compliance with the Ballast Water Management Convention 2004 and IMO Assembly resolution (28), adopted by the Republic of Panama by Law No.

3 41 of 12 September 2016. 2. APPLICABILITY. In accordance with definition of a ship in Article , the Ballast Water Management Convention will apply to vessels of any type including submersibles, floating craft, floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs. Once the Ballast Water Management Convention has entered into force all Panamanian flagged ships with dedicated ballast water tanks or spaces, shall comply with the following requirements: a) Ballast Water Management Plan approved by this Administration. b) Ballast Water Record Book Prepared by: Lawyer Revised by: Compliance and Enforcement Deputy Chief Approved by: Compliance and Enforcement Chief Control N : F-RIN-04-01 Versi n: 06 Date: August 1, 2016 Page 1 of 5.

4 Panamanian flagged ships of 400 gross tonnage (GT) and above, shall carry on board: a) International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWM Certificate), (excluding floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs at the location of operation). b) Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) approved by this Administration, and c) Ballast Water Record Book As per IMO documents related to the implementation of the Convention - Application of the BWM Convention to Mobile Offshore Units and - Guidance on entry or re-entry of ships into exclusive operation within waters under the jurisdiction of a single Party, Mobile offshore units including Mobile Offshore Drilling Units should be surveyed and issued with an International Ballast Water Management Certificate, according to regulations E-1 and E-2 of the Convention, as applicable.

5 3. BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (BWMS). The Ballast Water Management Systems Type approved by other Administrations will be accepted on ships under Panama flag, provided it's been approved in accordance with the Guidelines on the Type Approval process for BWMS (Resolution (58) or Resolution (70) as applicable). Manufacturers interested to obtain approval for their Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) by the Panama Maritime Authority may request a Recognition Certificate for the Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) through a legal representative located in Panama . This request is voluntary, and should be submitted to General Directorate of MERCHANT MARINE with the following documents: The list of system equipment limitations, if applicable.

6 Certificate of type approval from other Administration;. Additional supporting document, such as type approvals issued by Classification Societies;. Test results carried out by the other Administration and/or Classification Society, and Official Payment Receipt for USD $2, Recognized Organizations ( ) should conduct an additional survey during sea trials of a Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) to confirm the operation and efficacy of the system. Ships involved in voyages that include ports in the United Stated or its jurisdictional waters, shall be fitted with Ballast Water Management Systems accepted by the United State Coast Guard (USCG).

7 According to the timeline set by that Administration. 4. BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (BWMP). BWMP will be evaluated, revised and approved by Segumar Panama , in accordance with the requirement of Regulation B-1 of the Ballast Water Management Convention; the BWMP should take into account IMO Resolution (53) - Guidelines for ballast water management and development of ballast water management plans (G4) adopted by the IMO on 22 July 2005. To apply for the approval, ship-owners and ship-operators should access the following link: , from March 15, 2017. The link will allow users to upload the Ship's BWMP. Prepared by: Lawyer Revised by: Compliance and Enforcement Deputy Chief Approved by: Compliance and Enforcement Chief Control N : F-RIN-04-01 Versi n: 06 Date: August 1, 2016 Page 2 of 5.

8 The BWMP will be approved electronically and electronic copy should be placed on board, and available for inspection at all times. From March 15, 2017, this Administration will issue an electronic BWMP Statement of Fact to the Company, valid for three (3) months, upon receipt of the BWMP for review and approval. Ships not fitted with a BWMS or ships fitted with a BWMS which has been subject to modification should review and update their BWMP upon installation or modification. In these cases BWMP. should be submitted to the Administration for re-approval in accordance with paragraph of this CIRCULAR . Ballast Water Management Plans, previously approved by Recognized Organizations at their own behalf in accordance with Resolution (20) adopted by the IMO on 27 November 1997, will remain valid and will be accepted by this Administration until the plan requires revision due to the installation of a BWMS.

9 Payments for BWMP approval can be made through wire transfer, bank details can be requested to the following email addresses or full payment can be made to the MERCHANT MARINE Qualified Consulates. The fees set for the approval of a BWMP is as follows: First time Evaluation or significant amendments (Ej. Procedures, Calculations, Equipment change's or replacement.) USD 1, Amendments due to ship's name change, call sign, gross tonnage, etc., USD BWMP as per the guideline on Resolution (53) adopted by the IMO on July 22 2005, must be evaluated and endorsed by the Administration, considering that this Guideline is applicable form the entry into force of the Convention.

10 5. INTERNATIONAL BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE (IBWMC). Ships of 400 gross tonnage subject to the surveys required by the Convention (Regulation E-1) shall be issued after satisfactory completion, with the corresponding IBWMC (Regulation E-2). Recognized Organizations authorized to perform such surveys shall issue a Short term or Provisional International Ballast Water Management Certificate valid for a period of maximum five (5) months, after satisfactory completion of the correspondent initial or renewal survey. Initial Survey (in connection with Certificates issued for the first time), may be performed prior the entry into force of the Convention, and Provisional Certificates can be issued by the approved Recognized Organizations, to be valid from the date of entry into force of the Convention and valid for a period of maximum five (5) months.